New research indicates that women with hypertension prior to becoming pregnant are at an increased risk of becoming depressed.
Data from nearly 2,400 women was analyzed and researchers determined that women with pre-existing hypertension were 55% more likely to develop depression than women without high blood pressure. Low birth weight, premature births and postpartum depression have all been liked to depression during pregnancy.
For more information see:
“Hypertension Before Pregnancy Tied to Depression During” By Judith Groch, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today. Published: November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011 online from
http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/29664.

High blood pressure already effects your everyday life, from what you can eat to how much you exercise. But did you know it could also be altering your ability to correctly read emotions?
New research indicates that those with high blood pressure have difficulty interpreting emotions on people’s faces and text messages, called “emotional dampening”. The research focused on African-Americans and it is hypothesized that the emotional dampening may be a result of the way high blood pressure effects the nervous system.
For more information see:
“High Blood Pressure May Lead To …

Most mothers choose to breastfeed for the health of their baby, but new research shows that there could be health benefits for the mother as well.
Using information from over 56,000 mothers collected from the Nurses’ Health Study II, researchers discovered a correlation between mothers who breastfed, and the duration for which they did so, with a reduction in their risk for high blood pressure. They found that mothers who breastfed their first born exclusively for six months were 22% less likely to develop high blood pressure then those who did …

New research shows that simply having high blood pressure in the first trimester of pregnancy may be responsible for birth defects that were once attributed to anti-hypertension medications.
Researchers discovered that women with high blood pressure, whether they were receiving treatment or not, are more likely to have babies with congenital heart, brain or spinal cord defects. The study used data from over 460,000 women and their babies from 1995 to 2008.
ACE inhibitors used in the second and third trimester of pregnancy carry the FDA’s most serious warning for …

New research indicates that women with restless legs syndrome are more prone to hypertension.
The research focused on the health records of over 65,000 middle-aged women from the Nurses’ Health Study II. They found that when compared to women without restless legs symptoms, women with restless legs were 1.20 times more likely to also suffer from hypertension. Researchers also discovered that the more often one suffered from restless legs symptoms, the more likely they were to have high blood pressure.
For more information see:
Gao X, et al “Restless legs syndrome …

There is substantial evidence indicating that hypertension (blood pressure equal to or above 140/90) increases stroke risk, but a new study suggests that pre-hypertension (blood pressure above 120/80 but below 140/90) may be associated with an increased risk of stroke as well.
The study used records from over 500,000 adults who participated in blood pressure and stroke related studies. Researchers discovered that those who were pre-hypertensive had a 55% increased risk of stroke. Those with blood pressure in 130-139 range systolic were 79% more likely to suffer from a stroke …

Could the simple potato have the power to lower blood pressure?
Potatoes have developed an unfair reputation of being high-starch and full of empty calories, but that is not the case. In reality an average sized potato (approximately 5.3 oz) including its skin only has 110 calories, no fat and contains 45% of the recommend vitamin C needed daily, as well as 620 mg of potassium comparable to bananas, trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, phosphorous, iron and zinc. They also have high levels of antioxidants. And new research has …

It is not too surprising that the financial hardships that have hit the U.S. are effecting people’s health. A recent study tied an increase in the foreclosure rate to an increase in health problems.
A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that an increase of 100 foreclosures was correlated to a 7.2% increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for hypertension, 8.1% increase for diabetes, 12% more anxiety related visits and 39% more suicide attempts for those ages 20-49.
For more information see:
“Tying Health Problems to Rise …